Adana has to be one of Turkey’s most dynamic cities. It lies thirty kilometers from the eastern Mediterranean coast and is known as the entrance to the fertile Cukurova Plain, the biggest expanse of flat, bountiful land on the south eastern side of the Taurus Mountains. It is also the birthplace of the tasty Adana kebab. In 2007, Foreign Direct Investment Magazine listed it as one of the 25 European Regions of the Future.
Getting There
There are plenty of domestic flights from Turkey’s main international airports into Adana Sakirpasa Airport, which lies on the edge of the city. There are also plenty of trains and buses from key cities like Ankara and Istanbul. In the city there are plenty of taxis, dolmuses and a subway, which is still being built.A Dip Back in Time
Adana did not play a significant role in ancient history although the first traces of civilisation date back 3,000 years to the Paleolithic Age. At the time of the Hittites the city was called Uru Adaniyya, and its people were known as the Danuna. When the Hittite Empire collapsed around 1191BC, several small nations including the Persians fought for control of the area. Pompey the Great the military leader from the Roman Empire used athe city as as a prison for the pirates of Cilicia. Thereafter it was no more than a stopover for the Roman army on their way eastwards. On the demise of the Roman Empire it came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire and during this time it started to prosper and became an important trade centre. Huge bridges, roads, government institutions, irrigation and a plantation were constructed. By the mid 7th century, Adana was conquered by the Arab Abbasids then retaken by the Byzantines in 964. The Seljuk Turks were the next rulers followed by Tancred, on of the Frist Cruade leaders in 1097. In 1132, Leo I, King of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia ruled here. In 1360 Constantine III relinquished Adana to the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt in return for a peace treaty. The Ottoman Empire ruled the city thereafter until their demise in 1918.Must See
There are some fantastic sites to see in this city – the great Stone Bridge of Adana crosses the Seyhan River and was constructed by Hadrian in the 2nd century. It played a major role in linking Anatolia with Persia. The bridge has withstood many earthquakes and has been repaired many times; today you can see 14 of the original 21 arches. Another ancient site ids the castle built in 782 and known as Yilanli Kale. The Great Clock, Büyük Saat,built in 1882 and rebuilt in 1935 appears on the city’s coat of arms and lies in a part of the city where several historical buildings and the tombs of local governors are located. The retail hungry will enjoy the old bazaar, called the Bazaar of Cauldron-Makers with its mass of bargains, architecturally it is inspiring and it is worth looking up from the stalls to take in the marvels of its structure. The 16th century Bath of the Bazaar lies in the same square as the clock tower and the bazaar and if you are looking for a true Turkish bath experience then this is the place to go. The Bebekli Kilise, which translates as the Church of Babies is an ancient Catholic located on a street adorned with some fabulous traditional architecture. Adana is full of incredibly beautiful mosques including the 16th century Grand Mosque of Adana known as the Adana Ulu Camii constructed to Ottoman principles and the new Sabancı Mosque, which is the largest in the city and is very similar to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on the outside yet virtually identical to Edirne’s Selimiye Mosque on the inside. It was constructed in 1998 according to the designs of architect Necip Dinç. There are five museums in the city covering Ethnography and Architecture amongst other things. Perhaps the most interesting is the Misis Mosaic Museum.Entertainment and Accommodation
Adana is famous for its superb cuisine, which does not stop at the Adana kebab. It also produces şalgam, a salty, fermented turnip, which actually tastes delicious, despite its description, Şırdan a home-made rice filled sausage eaten with cumin, paça, which are boiled sheep's feet; the summertime dish bicibici, which is diced semolina, sugar and rose water served with crushed ice. There are several famous Turkish deserts originating from here including Halka Tatlı a dessert formed into a circle and Taş Kadayıf a dessert in the shape of a bow. Locally grown, fresh apricots are the best fruit in the city. There are plenty of places to stay and enjoy; Cazara 1 on Ziyapasa Street is an authentic bar with a good atmosphere, whilst the Pickup Rock Bar in the Cemalpasa area has live Turkish bands playing Western cover versions at weekends. The Nargile Bar in New Adana is a hang out for young rebels and it stages plenty of live Turkish music. The best hotel in the city is the Hilton Adana, which is the highest building in the city with fabulous views over the river and city. There are also some budget hotels situated near the big mosque like the Konya Hotel and the Garajlar Hotel. Pictures of Adana city courtesy of Verity Cridland
